Socialist Software Development - RubyConf 2010

Socialism is often portrayed as pure evil by US media (hello Fox News), yet many socialist countries are ranked as some of the best countries in the world (Newsweek). So maybe it’s not all bad?

If you look at job listings for software developers, it seem like a lot of companies are looking for “programmer rock stars”, “coding ninjas”, etc. There is a romantic notion about the ultra productive independent super developer.

This talk examines software development from a socialist perspective. Might we get better results and provide more value if we set aside our egos and work together?

Transcript of "Socialist Software Development - RubyConf 2010"

4.
The Labour Party is a democratic
socialist party.
It believes that, by the strength of our
common endeavour we achieve more
than we achieve alone, so as to
create, for each of us, the means to
realise our true potential, and, for all
of us, a community in which power,
wealth, and opportunity are in the
hands of the many, not the few.
“

5.
The Labour Party is a democratic
socialist party.
It believes that, by the strength of our
common endeavour we achieve more
than we achieve alone, so as to
create, for each of us, the means to
realise our true potential, and, for all
of us, a community in which power,
wealth, and opportunity are in the
hands of the many, not the few.
“

10.
“Pair programming, like socialism, can
help the weak folks but greatly
hinders the better ones. Two idiots
working together can’t mentor each
other. Two capable programmers don’t
need to mentor each other.
From “What Every Engineer Should Know About
Career Management”, by Mike Ficco